Culbreath: Coaching matters in Detroit hire

The Detroit Lions hire of Jim Caldwell spurred a bit of discussion in the office regarding what a coach means to a team.

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No one I talked to was all that thrilled about Caldwell’s hire the day it was announced. A terrible run as head coach at Wake Forest? Three years in Indianapolis? Yes, he was handpicked by Tony Dungy to take over the Colts, and even now Dungy is singing his praises as he dons the Honolulu Blue. He’s been to three Super Bowls, and won two. He’s clearly got a pedigree, right?

There’s that 2-14 season that bothers me.

If you don’t remember, that was his third year in Indianapolis. Peyton Manning had neck surgery in the offseason, and simply was unable to play. Dipping into the pile of leftover QBs, they pulled Kerry Collins out of the dump and promptly had the worst season since Manning’s rookie year. Caldwell was fired, Manning was released and enigmatic owner Jim Irsay unofficially retired the 18 jersey.

(For the sake of brevity, I’m not going to talk about how the Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII under Caldwell’s watch as offensive coordinator, only to have an absolutely terrible offensive season this year.)

Yeah, I know that it’s hard to win when your franchise quarterback can’t play. But isn’t that when good coaches are supposed to shine?

A good coach, to me, gets more out of his players. Whether through motivation, play selection, or game management, they can take good players and squeeze that extra bit out of them. They can win with superstars, absolutely, but they also know that the game can’t run solely through one person. A good coach knows how to build a team around its strengths, and how to minimize its weaknesses. A bad coach puts his eggs in one basket, and then shrugs his shoulders when the eggs break.

You want to know what other coach has a phenomenal winning record? Mike Brown. He won more than 66 percent of his games as the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005-10. He had similar success in Los Angeles as the coach of the Lakers. Then why is his second stint with the Cavs going so poorly? Could it be because he had the likes of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant on his rosters?

I’m trying not to smear Caldwell before he gets a crack at the job. After all, the guy who’s won a thousand Super Bowls with the New England Patriots only did so after getting crushed in Cleveland. But what Bill Belichik was able to do in Foxboro was adjust his gameplan when franchise quarterback Drew Bledsoe went down, and they were forced to start a little-known passer from Michigan named Tom Brady. Caldwell hasn’t shown me the ability to coach, just the ability to let superstars do their thing. Sure, Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson can play catch until the cows come home. But when that stops working, what next?

“Shaggy” Matt Culbreath is sports director for 1370 WSPD. Email him at shaggy@wspd.com.

The journey to ‘Red, White & You’

In May 2010, at the height of her “American Idol” run, I asked Crystal Bowersox to predict the future.

“As your career progresses, will you be seen more as Jamie Farr or Katie Holmes?” I asked.

Bowersox, a native of Elliston, knew exactly what I meant.

“Jamie is the model,” she said. “I am proud to be from here, proud of the people I know. As long as I can, I will always show love for Toledo.”

Three years into her continuing journey, Bowersox is making good on that promise. In addition to her work for the Toledo School for the Arts, she has graciously contributed to our ongoing CD projects. In 2011, she recorded a vocal for a celebrity reading of “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus” for the first Toledo Free Press Make-A-Wish “Holiday Wishes” CD. A few months ago, I asked Bowersox’s manager, music executive Gina Orr, if she would approach Bowersox about contributing a track to this summer’s Red Cross benefit CD, “Red, White & You.” Her response, “I think we can offer ‘Holy Toledo,’” floored us. We would have been grateful for a recording of Bowersox reading her grocery list, and she was donating one of her most successful and meaningful tracks.

Sweet Alyson

Bowersox’s generosity is echoed in another famous local daughter, Alyson Stoner. A native Toledoan, Stoner has achieved fame through movie franchises such as “Cheaper By The Dozen,” “Step Up,” Camp Rock” and her work on Disney Channel’s “Mike’s Super Short Show” and “Phineas and Ferb.” Stoner also recorded a vocal for the 2011 Make-A-Wish CD and donated a stack of autographed DVDs for that cause. For this summer’s Red Cross project, she donated “Sweet,” an energetic and hyper-catchy song from her “Beat The System” collection.

“Red, White & You” is the fifth CD Toledo Free Press has produced, and each one has been a lesson in how talented, accessible and philanthropic the Toledo music scene is.

That generosity is embodied by the people who continually help us raise the bar with the CD projects. You may know Chrys Peterson as the anchorwoman for WTOL-11, but our CD listeners know she is also an incredibly talented vocalist. Her holiday contributions have been a testament to her talents, but her track on “Red, White & You” is a revelation. Holiday music is inherently restrained and spiritual. On her summer track “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay,” Peterson employs gritty, sensual and weary nuances that will impress even those who are familiar with her vocals.

Integral pieces

Other artists are integral pieces of these philanthropic puzzles. Kerry Patrick Clark has written original songs for the holiday CDs and recorded an honest and aching rendition of Bruce Springsteen’s “Girls In Their Summer Clothes” for the Red Cross CD. Pat Dailey has been a true friend of these projects, allowing us to utilize his vast catalog of music, but he bested even our lofty expectations when he and his manager Tom Brady came through this summer with one of his signature songs, “Put-In-Bay.”

My friend Jeff Stewart has been an anchor of the holiday CDs and this summer contributed a brand-new track, the melodic and gorgeous “Little One” from his upcoming album.

There are of course other great friends of this project. Kyle White’s heart is as big as her voice. Carmen Miller’s music is the soul of our CDs and she has been amazing in helping organize the free Red Cross concert with several acts at 7 p.m. June 23 at Hollywood Casino Toledo. I believe Eddie Boggs would busk on a street corner with a hat on the ground for these charities if we asked him. The musicians in goLab, Nine Lives, The Sanderlings, Arctic Clam, Buck69, Old State Line and The Bradberries comprise an army of great music and generous spirits.

We are also making new friends with each new project. Matt Sayers, Highbinder, Mike “Mad Dog” Adams, Throw It To Erie and Milano each make their Toledo Free Press CD debut this summer, and I fervently hope we will bring you more of their music as the years roll by.

Behind the music

Behind the music are two monster talents. Mighty Wyte and Brett Dennison. Mighty has been our engineer from the beginning and makes the CDs sound amazing whether you are listening on earbuds, car speakers or a home system. Dennison, of Firefly Studios, opened his space to record a number of songs for the project and delivered epic versions of some classic summer songs.

The sponsors for the summer CD are stellar. Bennett Enterprises is utilizing every avenue of its Frisch’s Big Boy and Ralphie’s network to fund and distribute the CDs. KeyBank is on board as a distributor, a major addition to our philanthropic arsenal. A.A. Boos & Sons stepped up as a sponsor. Our media partners, WTOL/FOX Toledo and WSPD, are crucial partners and powerful allies.

The creative emphasis is on music, but the impact is for the American Red Cross of Northwest Ohio. The $10 you spend on the CD (and you get $4 of that back on a Frisch’s Big Boy/Ralphie’s coupon) provides comfort kits with hygiene items and necessities to five adults or children following a disaster. The local Red Cross team members who have helped with this CD — Tim Yenrick, Amanda Aldrich, Peggy Holewinski and Ken Robinson — are tireless in their Red Cross work and have been wonderful teammates.

And of course, there is you. Thousands of you purchase the Make-A-Wish CD each year and I hope you will trust us with this first summer Red Cross CD. You support the sponsors, bands and distribution locations and for that, all of us are appreciative and grateful.

No one knows what the future holds, but these CDs represent a collaboration of art, commerce and charity that defines Toledo’s present.

Call for music

Speaking of the future, now that our summer CD has been released, it is time to start working on the 2013 “Holiday Wishes 3: If You Believe” album for Make-A-Wish Foundation. If your act or studio is interested in contributing, please contact me and we’ll get started.

Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Contact him at mmiller@toledofreepress.com.

‘Holiday Wishes’ CD benefits Make-A-Wish

Pat Dailey’s “River of Stars” is not a Christmas song, yet it lends its title to this year’s collection of local holiday music benefiting Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The “star” connection is obvious. Make-A-Wish uses a bright blue star as its logo. Toledo Free Press uses a star in its masthead (a tribute to the owner’s connections to Texas). With two CDs containing 44 tracks, the river of local music stars is well represented. And the star is a shining symbol for the wish kids and families that benefit from the organization’s great work.

The song’s connection to Christmas is not as obvious.

This is the second year for the “Holiday Wishes” project and the second year Dailey and his manager Tom Brady have generously contributed a track. Last year’s Dailey song, “Here Comes The Cold,” was a natural fit. Another of his few winter-themed tracks, “Here In The North,” is one I hope to include next year. When I heard “River of Stars,” from Dailey’s “Squeaky Clean” collection, it immediately struck me as a perfect choice to set the tone for this year’s collection.

It begins with a light, sparkling twinkle of sounds that segue into gentle guitar. The first words Dailey sings may not have been written to evoke Christmas, but they certainly serve as a grand place to begin this year’s musical journey through the holidays: “I remember a night, so long ago/under a river of stars,” Dailey sings, with all the confidence of a master storyteller. And while Dailey may have envisioned Put-in-Bay harbor when he wrote the lyrics, they could just as easily describe a special night in the Bethlehem sky.

The song seems to be about an earthly relationship, but it culminates in imagery that clearly paints a picture of faith: “And so I row, row, row my boat once more/Until I find you waiting on a distant shore/With outstretched arms and upturned hands/You lead me into the harbor and back to the sand.”

It is a spiritual image of hope and comfort that captures the feeling of Christmas without needing a single direct word.

Musical treasures

There are many surprises and musical treasures on this year’s CDs. Jon Hendricks contributes an original song, “The Gift,” that sounds as if it could be found on a Frank Sinatra holiday CD. Listening to the track for the first time with Dave Mariasy at Audio Matrix Recording Studio was transporting. Music is mostly listened to through tiny earbuds, computer speakers or car stereos. To listen to Hendricks and a single piano through Mariasy’s high-tech studio speakers was akin to hearing music for the first time. It was a revelation. Hendricks’ voice simultaneously weaves tensile strength with an aching fragility.

A new tradition

For Christmas 2011, Toledo Free Press produced “Holiday Wishes,” a CD of holiday songs performed by Northwest Ohio musicians. The CD was a 25-track compilation and raised more than $25,000 for Make-A-Wish. It was underwritten by Toledo Transmission and UAW Local 14, so every dollar raised, through sales at Panera Bread locations, went directly to Make-A-Wish.

Although Toledo Free Press had produced two previous CDs, one collecting historical recordings and one from a Toledo songwriting contest, neither approached the scale or complexity of “Holiday Wishes.”

With tremendous media support from FOX Toledo, WPOS, 101.5 The River and many of our media friends, the CD sold out and even before 2012 started, we were thinking about a second volume.

Rather than start in late July, as we did in 2011, the 2012 compilation process started in January. Lexi Staples gave us a copy of a track her father, the late radio personality Dennis Staples, recorded of Dr. Seuss’ “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” That required tracking down permission from Random House Publishing, Warner Bros. Studios and the estate of Dr. Seuss. With all those rights now granted, it is a great honor to include that track on this year’s CD.

Another late performer is remembered as the Johnny Knorr Orchestra, led by Johnny’s son, Jerry, plays “Auld Lang Syne” for the 2012 CD. Johnny died in August 2011.

LaFontaine has allowed us to include “Toledo, My Hometown” on this year’s collection. It is a contribution that raises the bar for all the participating artists. “Toledo My Hometown” is a seasonal staple on The River, and it is an honor to have it on this year’s CD. The tune has added poignancy as we wish LaFontaine well in her new city of Nashville, Tenn.

There are several artists returning from last year. Stewart and White perform a revelatory version of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War is Over).” The great Chip Davis allowed us to use Mannheim Steamroller’s “Fum Fum Fum.” Coleman did double duty, singing “Santa Baby” with Chris Brown’s band and “Merry Christmas Baby” with Buck69. Peterson and our friends in Hepcat Revival cover Harry Connick Jr.’s “Pray On Christmas.” Voodoo Libido, Skoobie Snaks and The Wanna Bees all contribute rocking tracks. The Polka Floyd Show took “Run Like Hell” from Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” and “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” and created a mashup that has already attracted regional attention.

VH1 favorite Tatiana Owens wrote and recorded a stunning new song, “Winter Holidays,” that could be played alongside any modern classic.

Local media veterans Jerry Anderson, Fred LeFebvre, Mary Beth Zolik and Rick Woodell recorded dynamic readings on par with Farr’s interpretation of “A Visit From St. Nicholas” from last year. We wish Zolik a speedy recovery as she undergoes treatment for cancer.

This year’s CD will include a number of exciting new artists, from young country singers such as Connor Rose to emerging rockers like The Sanderlings.

Not that every wish comes true; a few notable Toledo entertainers did not bother to respond to requests, even with a “no.” The Danny Thomas estate declined permission for a track, and Sony Legacy would not provide gratis rights to a Teresa Brewer track we were hoping to include.

But even with those very few disappointments, we still had so many quality submissions we had to start saving them for 2013. Great tracks by Arctic Clam, Krystal Monique, Mitch Kahl, Tim Ellis, Andrew Z’s Morning Crew and a few others are waiting in the wings.

The MVPs

The best news for the project was the return of three people who are behind the scenes, but integral to the process; indeed, without them it would not have happened last year and would not happen this year. Christopher Stoll, engineer at Audioflare Productions at Zeta Recording Studios, donated studio time and his finely attuned ears to the project. He earned MVP status this year, recording tracks ranging from Irish folk to German choirs. Matt Feher engineered the CDs, ensuring the discs are produced to the highest standards. Larry Meyer navigates the legal and publishing issues to make sure every “T” is crossed and every “I” is dotted.

Special thank-yous this year go to GM Powertrain Toledo, UAW Local 14, WNWO, 101.5 The River, A&D Glass & Mirror, Levis Commons and Panera Bread. All proceeds will go directly to Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana to benefit children in the 21-county Northwest Ohio region.

Make-A-Wish development officer Ellie McManus is a dream to work with and is a constant inspiration and reminder of Make-A-Wish’s mission. Toledo Free Press Sales Manager BJ Rahn has also been an invaluable help.

I am personally grateful to have strengthened some friendships and made new ones. I may never have met McManus, Clark or E.J. Wells without this project, and my life would be a bit dimmer without their creativity.

Summertime project

The project has also inspired an offshoot. For summer 2013, Toledo Free Press will produce a CD of upbeat summer party songs for the American Red Cross of Northwest Ohio to use as a vehicle for summer safety information. If you are a local musician interested in getting your Beach Boys vibe on disc, contact me before we get too far into January.

Thank you again to every musician and person who donated their time and talent to this project. If you would like to see the recipients of your labor, join us at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at The Blarney Event Center for our second annual “Holiday Wishes” benefit concert. There will be food, friends and a lot of smiling faces at the public event.

In the meantime, I am going to start working on convincing Ramona Collins to record “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” for the 2013 collection …

Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Email him at mmiller@

High school students given chance at college before graduation

Editor’s Note: Toledo Free Press, United Way of Greater Toledo and 13abc’s “Bridges” with Doni Miller are profiling 12 education initiative programs in Northwest Ohio. This is the seventh story in the series.

In 2005, a new high school opened through a partnership with the University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools (TPS) and a grant through the Gates Foundation. It serves 100 students.

Aimed at students who generally would not be prepared for higher education and students who are not native English speakers, Toledo Early College High School (TECHS) provides students with the chance to begin earning college credit while still in high school.

In its second year, amidst the failing ratings of TPS, TECHS earned an “excellent” rating.

The school is located on UT’s Scott Park campus and students are able to use the UT bus system to take first-year college classes on the main campus. In some cases, the high school faculty, who all must have a master’s degree, is trained to teach college-level courses so students can stay within the high school.

In the long run, it benefits the state because it is only funding potentially six to seven years of education instead of eight, or the traditional four years of high school and four (or more) years of college, said Tom Brady, chair of the TECHS Governance Board.

“While everyone probably can’t do that, many could and it would save families and the state money in the end,” he said.

Brady said when the first graduating class went to college, most went to UT and did well.

“That’s the kind of thing, where you get a chance to make that happen, it’s something that is a good thing,” Brady said.

These students weren’t just going to college as an average freshman — the high school gives students the opportunity to graduate with one to two years of college coursework already completed.

Robin Wheatley, TECHS principal, said that a graduate from the first freshman class graduated with a bachelor’s degree from UT in December 2010 and there are other students who will be graduating with their bachelor’s this spring and fall. All of the students will be 20 years old at most.

Historically, Brady said schools like TECHS are not full of the “brightest students” from the district, but the faculty and resources from the high school and UT help them do their best in preparation for life beyond high school.

“The fact that early college high school and Toledo Technology Academy have been able to take kids that are pretty average and make them successful is one of the real bright spots,” Brady said.

For the majority of the students who choose to stay at UT, they receive several benefits.

“You don’t have to learn a new campus, you know the professors, you can figure out what’s a good course for you to take and what the expectations are,” Dr. Wheatley said.

But the school and its students are facing some challenges as well.

A major worry for the TECHS faculty and students is that the grant from the Gates Foundation ran out.

One of the proposed budget cuts for TPS last year, Brady said, was to eliminate TECHS.

Then there are the problems that stem from the limited funding: busing students to and from school, some of which are from suburban districts, not just TPS; paying the tuition for the UT classes; procuring textbooks for the UT classes; and recruiting and keeping students in a school that is not a traditional high school.

“These schools need to survive because even though they may appear as extra expenses, they are the bright lights,” Brady said.

The school tries to enroll 100 students each year in the freshman class, but when some kids come to a school like this, they decide along the way that it’s not for them, Brady said. The coursework is more difficult and it does not have all of the same extracurricular activities, such as a football team. It is possible that the class size can drop down to 60.

However, the school still has a competitive quiz bowl team, yearbook staff, Youth to Youth, drama club, chess club, a community dance troupe and an American Sign Language club, to name a few, Wheatley said.

Another worry for parents is affect the funding limitations could have. They could lose transportation to school or the school could close before their child has graduated.

Brady said the school is trying to work on its marketing through advertising and using resources from UT. They are on both the university’s website as well as the TPS website.

Despite the struggles, the school is continuing onward and doing what it does best — preparing students to be successful college students and beyond.

Being located on the UT campus, students are able to take part in the university’s programs, such as cultural events and career fairs.